Weight Gain: The Addiction Factor

From heart failure, to stroke, to diabetes, the serious life threatening issues associated with severe obesity are well known. What is less known are the underlying causes of significant weight gain. Though it may seem overtly obvious why someone would go through major weight gain--many would dismiss it as a simple matter of overeating--the underlying contributing factors can be much more complex. To some, procedures like a sleeve gastrectomy may seem extreme, however, due to the intense challenges facing the obese, such procedures are actually one of the best methods to reach a healthy weight. 

Addiction is one major aspect of overeating and severe obesity that plays a large role in weight gain as well as an inability lose it. As both a psychological and physical concept, addiction is topic that is, only in recent years, one that is being explored in-depth beyond the association of drug use. Studies have been conducted that suggest cases of addiction and dependency on a range of non drug related fixations from video games, to sex, and even social media. Our brain's tendency to release dopamine, and undergo other changes while having its pleasure centers stimulated means that we can become dependent on those stimuli.  

When it comes to food, the element of addiction is even more pronounced because of the body's physical reaction during consumption. It's a reality that's so pervasive that companies rely on being able to create snacks loaded with sugar, salt, and fatty content to give the body an irresistible high. In addition to the physical element of food addiction, psychological factors play a role such as stress eating. At University Bariatrics our proven procedures combat the roadblocks of severe obesity and deliver positive results. For more on top  bariatric surgery in Thousand Oaks visit our website today.

The Company You Keep; the Choices You Make

At University Bariatrics, we tend to focus more on the hows than the whys of obesity, but figuring out both is obviously of great importance in dealing with the tough problem of fighting our natural tendency to overeat. After all, it's great to perform a sleeve gastrectomy, but if we understood better just what it was that makes some people eat too much on a regular basis, we could do more preventive work.

That's a big part of why we were so intrigued by a brief article in the October 6 Los Angeles Times. It described a study in which some diners were first invited to watch an actress who appeared to be overweight (she was actually wearing a special suit designed to make her look 50 pounds heavier). It didn't seem to matter much whether the "heavy" woman ate a relatively high calorie meal mostly of pasta or a healthier meal emphasizing salads, people who watched the apparently large woman eat were more likely to make heavier, pasta-centric choices.

We human beings are social animals and there's no doubt we take our cues from those around us. What makes this study interesting, however, is that the mere presence of an overweight person might make us less careful about what we eat, regardless of what they actually eat in front of us. As to what we should actually do with this information, we're not sure. It's only one study and it's not like we can suddenly start avoiding everyone we know who might have a few pounds to lose. Even if we could, it would clearly have little or no impact, especially in comparison with having a sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass in Thousand Oaks at our offices.

On the other hand, especially for those of us who are parents, it might be cause for some serious consideration. Could the very fact that we're overweight cause our children to overeat more often, even if we're very careful to only eat healthfully while they're actually around? It certainly might be one more motivating factor to continue our own efforts to fight obesity. It's food for thought.

What We Know

At University Bariatrics, we keep a pretty close eye on the latest health news, but not all of it is as revealing as you might think. For example, an article in the September 23 Los Angeles Times had what sounded like a somewhat encouraging report. "U.S. rate of Type 2 diabetes stabilizes, CDC reports," said the headline.

However, when you look a little bit into the facts, it's not clear that the Atlanta-based Center for Disease Control has really learned much at all. An estimated 28% of diabetes cases never get a formal diagnosis. That means the CDC numbers are very likely incorrect and diabetes may be continuing to grow alongside our nation's collective waistline. As the Affordable Healthcare Act (aka Obamacare) continues, however, it's our hope that more diabetic patients will still getting treated and the numbers might start to reflect the actual reality.

The important thing to remember is that a bariatric surgery in Thousand Oaks
or anywhere else remains the best way we know of of treating diabetes in obese patients. The research is clear that patients generally see a significant improvement or an actual remission in their type 2 diabetes, one of the health impacts of obesity most destructive to lifespan and the overall quality of life. We also know that the earlier it is done, the more effective it tends to be in fighting diabetes.

If you are dealing with such negative health impacts of obesity as diabetes and high blood pressure, among many other conditions, we're happy to help. If you'd like to learn more about whether you're a candidate for such treatments as sleeve gastrectomy in Westlake Village/Thousand Oaks, just give us a call anytime.

Weight Loss Surgery: a Becon of Success Against the Odds

Most of us are already aware of the extreme health risks that face the severely obese. Heart attack and stroke are just two of the associated deadly life threatening issues. Though these extreme health concerns are now common knowledge, what is not is the fact that weight loss surgery has been proven to be the only consistent and long term solution to severe obesity. The idea of weight loss surgery may seem extreme to some, but at University Bariatrics, our experienced medical team knows that it's often the best option to save lives.




The statistics on weight loss for the severely obese are staggering. Less than 5% of those who attempt to modify their weight, without surgery, to healthy levels are able to achieve it, or maintain long term success. On the other hand, operations like the sleeve gastrectomy are able to provide the results needed the vast majority of the time, and have even exhibited an ability to put type 2 diabetes into remission in 82% of cases.

With results like these, it's important to realize that weight loss surgery isn't just about working toward a cosmetically appealing body; that it's literally a matter of life and death. Successful operations decrease the mortality rate of the severely obese by a factor of 40.  Though the severely obese face major health risks and are up against considerable odds to make things better, weight loss surgery is proven to be effective and can offer the hope they need. At University Bariatrics, our team performs world class bariatric surgery in Simi Valley and the surrounding areas, and is ready to offer the quality care weight loss patients need. 

Superfoods or Super Marketing?

Imagine if just one or two foods contained almost every nutrient we needed to be at the absolute peak of physical fitness and maybe helped us lose weight. If the choice was between eating a certain berry or getting a gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy, for example, who wouldn't chose eating the berry?

The appeal of the widely hyped "superfoods" is very to see. Still, here at University Bariatrics, we know that the easiest answer is usually not the correct one. If you've been wondering if such trendy and usually expensive products as açaí, chia seed, and goji berries might really offer some special health benefits to deal with everything from diabetes to cancer and heart disease, well, they may have benefits but they're not all that special.

Finding out that most of the trendy alleged superfoods are not much more healthy than the broccoli, oranges, carrots, apples, and bananas we can find at any supermarket is not exciting, but it really seems to be case. The video below from the Australian consumer news program, The Checkout, makes an informative and entertaining case that, especially with highly hyped products that promise the moon, whether it's a berry or a special grain or bean, we should keep our guard very high indeed. While most alleged superfoods are reasonably nutritious, the only thing that's really "super" about them is their marketing.

We truly wish we could prescribe a superfood instead of such highly involved treatments as bariatric surgery in Simi Valley/Thousand Oaks, but we all know that big health changes usually require major effort. Still, finding out the truth behind health hype can be kind of fun. Take a look at the video below and find out more about what really makes a food "super." 

A Decades-Long Journey Toward Weight Loss and Health

In the 1960s, when bariatric surgery began, surgeons would perform the treatment that they believed to be safest and most effective method. Of course, because the surgical procedure was so new, complications would arise from time to time. Today, though, Healthline reports that "the safety and efficacy of weight-loss surgery is widely accepted by groups like the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association."

In fact, recent research has shown that weight-loss surgery can even serve as an effective treatment to severe health issues like type 2 diabetes, as well as dramatically lowering the risk of heart disease. Of course, it's important to remember that even though bariatric surgery is safer and more effective than ever, it is still a surgical treatment that requires the precision and meticulous skill of a proven expert like Dr. Amir Mehran at University Bariatrics.

Dr. Mehran performs treatments like sleeve gastrectomy, Lap Band, and various other bariatric procedures to patients who are looking to enhance their health as well as the quality and length of their lives. Over the course of his career, Dr. Mehran has performed more than 1000 laparoscopic stapled bariatric and general surgery operations. Whether you're looking to undergo sleeve gastrectomy or acquire an adjustable band in Thousand Oaks, contact Dr. Mehran at University Bariatrics today.